The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is the government’s flagship health insurance scheme for poor and vulnerable families.
It provides Rs 5 lakh per family per year on a family floater basis to cover serious illnesses that require secondary or tertiary hospitalisation.
One of the biggest advantages is that all pre-existing diseases are covered from day one.
There are no age or gender restrictions, and the number of family members is not limited.
This makes it a complete health protection plan for eligible households.
Treatment under PM-JAY is cashless and paperless at thousands of empanelled hospitals across India.
Who Is Covered Under the Scheme?
PM-JAY defines a “family” as:
Spouses
Children, including newborns
Parents and grandparents
Siblings and in-laws
Any other dependents living in the same household
There is no cap on the number of members, and everyone in the eligible family is covered automatically.
Recently, the government expanded the scheme to provide an additional Rs 5 lakh cover for senior citizens aged 70 and above.
This is over and above the regular Rs 5 lakh family floater limit.
Eligibility and Benefits for Senior Citizens
Who is eligible: Any individual aged 70 or above, as per their Aadhaar details.
Economic status does not matter.
Activation: Senior members must complete their Aadhaar eKYC to get the extra coverage.
Key Features for Seniors:
No upper age limit: Even those in their 70s, 80s, or older can fully benefit from the scheme.
Free annual health check-ups: Senior citizens get free preventive screenings and regular health checks at Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres.
Comprehensive care: Covers secondary treatments like surgeries and specialist consultations, as well as tertiary care such as organ transplants and advanced treatments.
This ensures senior citizens receive complete and high-quality healthcare coverage under PM-JAY.
